The Australian Grand Prix ended in chaos on Sunday. Not just because of the crashes and red flags, but also because the spectators flooded the track.
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As our colleague Louis Butcher wrote, we hadn’t seen that since the Canadian Grand Prix in 1995 and it was never to happen once more.
Spectators flocked to the track even before the end of the race and some drivers stopped immediately following crossing the finish line without being able to take their lap of honor.
Australian Grand Prix official Andrew Westacott has promised to open an investigation to shed light on the circumstances that allowed spectators to end up on the track.
appalling
The supporters evaded the various security devices to find themselves on the asphalt.
“It might have been appalling,” Westacott told Agence France-Presse. We have a large number of surveillance cameras and a large amount of footage that we will be reviewing over the next two weeks. Motorsport is dangerous.”
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) was quick to react and summoned the organizers to have an explanation for what is considered a major violation of the sporting code.
It appears that some spectators were able to make it to the Haas of Nico Hülkenberg who stopped on the exit of the second corner following finishing in seventh place.
The fault of the spectators
“The security measures and protocols that needed to be put in. Places for the event were not enforced, which created an unsafe environment for spectators, drivers and race officials,” the FIA said.
sAndrew Westacott instead blamed the attendance which was over 131,000 on Sunday.
“Spectators are allowed to enter the track following the race is over and following the safety car has passed, but spectators have broken through a safety barrier and we don’t know how yet.”
